Statistical
Mechanics and Plasma Physics is a core course in B. Sc.
(Honors) Physics curriculum. The course endeavors to present the basics of
Statistical Mechanics and Plasma Physics together with a number of elementary
applications of these basic principles. After a discussion of the concepts of
probability, the postulates of classical mechanics are developed in
various ensembles of
physical relevance. The
ideas thus developed
for the classical
systems will be shown to have serious limitations when applied to quantum
systems. Subsequently, we develop the correct theory of
statistical mechanics for
quantum systems and
show that classical
results can be recovered from
the quantum theories in the high temperature - low density limit.
Finally, the course would cover basics of plasma physics with focus on charge
neutrality, plasma oscillations and the Debye length, collisions, thermal
plasmas and shock waves in plasmas.
- Teacher: Arunabha Saha